Chapter 410: Pursuing Freedom

"Lu San'er!"

Lu Cheng was about to enter the courtyard when he heard the shout and turned his head to look.

At the Hu Tong Entrance, a bright young girl stood, her hands clasped behind her, her eyes curved like crescents.

"Why did you come?"

Yang Yin walked over gracefully and extended a hand from behind: "Hey, I brought you some photos."

Lu Cheng took it and found only a group photo with Zheng Guoping and the others, with no solo picture of him and Yang Yin.

"Alright, I've received it, thanks. You can go back now."

Yang Yin pulled her face into a pout: "I'm already at your doorstep, you made me run all the way here to deliver photos, yet you don't even invite me in for a cup of tea."

Lu Cheng inhaled; it wasn't that he didn't want to, but there were a lot of things at home, and his mother had been in a bad mood lately after quarreling with his father.

Especially after receiving two letters today, Lu Cheng's mind was even more chaotic.

The letter from his older brother, who got a job at the disciplinary inspection unit, was good news.

But Wu Zhekun's letter… was very worrisome.

Wu Zhekun wrote in the letter that a war might break out, based on the current situation's forecast.

Whether it would happen? Wu Zhekun was uncertain.

But Lu Cheng knew a war was indeed coming, and it would be next year; the nation was preparing to act and give the White‑eyed Wolf a good lesson.

This time Wu Zhekun was urgently transferred to the Southern Border Region, which is the Frontline; war there isn't a game, it's deadly.

What Lu Cheng didn't understand was that Wu Zhekun was clearly in the Northern Border Region, and logically shouldn't be reassigned to the south.

There was only one possibility: Wu Zhekun's father wanted to move his son there.

If that were true, Senior Brother's heart was truly ruthless, since Wu Zhekun was the Wu Family's only male heir.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but worry; after all, he was his nephew, and he even planned to ask Senior Sister about the specifics. In this mood, he had no inclination to entertain Yang Yin.

"You should go back first; the house has been a bit chaotic these past two days. When I have time later, I'll invite you over."

Yang Yin felt a little disappointed. Though she's carefree and her mother always says she's heartless, she's not stupid; she could tell when Lu Cheng turned her down.

"Oh, alright then…"

Just as Yang Yin turned around, Chen Xianglan, who was about to go out to buy groceries, stepped out of the courtyard.

"Hey, isn't that the little girl who came to our house last time?"

"Auntie, it's me. I'm here to give Lu Cheng the photos. You forgot my name; I'm called Yang Yin."

"Ah, I remember—you're Xiao Yang, the Yang of the white poplar." Chen Xianglan then looked at her son and complained, "Why don't you invite her inside?"

"Mom, I…"

"Auntie, he won't let me in."

Yang Yin's tone was clearly accusatory.

"No, you…"

Lu Cheng was about to explain when Chen Xianglan tapped him: "You child, someone kindly gave you photos, how can you treat them like that! Come on, Xiao Yang, hurry inside."

Chen Xianglan held Yang Yin's hand, and as they passed by Lu Cheng, who was standing with his arms crossed, Yang Yin, delighted at the misfortune, said:

"Got hit, huh? Serves you right!"

Seeing Yang Yin, Chen Xianglan's mood clearly brightened.

"Xiao Yang, you haven't been here for a while. When you're free, just come over to play; Auntie thinks of you every day."

"Really, Auntie? Then I'll come often, except Lu Cheng won't let me."

"Don't mind him; this isn't his home. He's just a freeloader. I'm lucky I haven't kicked him out; you have no idea how annoying he is every day."

"Right, Auntie? I also find him quite annoying. Auntie, where are you heading out to?"

"Oh, I'm planning to buy groceries. No rush; I'll sit inside for a while first…"

Watching the two chat intimately while walking, Lu Cheng trailed behind at a leisurely pace, like an outsider.

"No, just keep chatting, don't drag me in."

Chen Xianglan turned and glared: "Don't talk, I'm telling you, your dad offended me, I've been in a bad mood these days, and if Xiao Yang hadn't come today, I was ready to beat you up."

Lu Cheng was speechless: "My dad offended you, why would you beat me? I never offended you."

Lu Cheng had been tiptoeing these past few days, fearing his mother would use him as a punching bag.

His mother was extremely irritable now; any dog passing by the road would get a kick.

Yang Yin turned back, smugly pursed her lips: "Beat you! Who told you all to have the surname Lu? Auntie's the only one with a different surname."

If Yang Yin hadn't said that it would be fine, but saying it made Chen Xianglan even angrier, and she immediately rolled up her arm.

"Hey, the more I think about it the angrier I get, come over and let me beat you, otherwise I can't get this off my chest…"

"No, Mom, calm down."

Lu Cheng quickly stepped back, and as Yang Yin scolded, "No, you're just being reckless here, go, go, go, hurry home."

"Auntie, look at him, he's trying to drive me away again; I haven't even had a sip of tea."

Chen Xianglan glared: "Try kicking another out! If you want to leave, leave. Seeing any Lu surnames irritates me."

With that backing, Yang Yin's smug expression grew even more; Lu Cheng inhaled and finally dared not say anything.

Seeing Lu Cheng's dejected look made Yang Yin even more smug; she clutched Chen Xianglan's arm and kept walking into the house.

【6】 "Auntie, don't be angry; anger isn't good, especially for us women, it ages you quickly."

"Auntie, don't get angry; getting angry is bad, especially for us women, it makes us age quickly."

"Is that so?"

"No, my mother always says a good mood is more important than anything. There's an old saying, 'laugh and you'll be ten years younger,' so you should smile more."

Chen Xianglan truly laughed, patting Yang Yin's arm and praising, "My dear, you're not only good‑looking but also pleasant to hear. From now on, come over often, and don't worry about that stinky little boy."

Yang Yin quickly nodded: "Mm‑mm, by the way, Auntie, what's going on between you and Uncle Lu?"

When we got into the house, Chen Xianglan let Yang Yin sit down while she took the hot‑water kettle: "Sigh, it's nothing special, I just wanted to go to the barbershop to curl my hair, but he flatly refused, even put a hat on me, I got angry in the moment and argued with him a few words."

"Curling hair?" Yang Yin, both hands holding a cup to fetch water, thought seriously: "Then I think that's great, Auntie. I see your face shape is especially suited for curls, it will definitely make you look younger. You don't know, my mother just curled her hair a few days ago, and it looked wonderful."

Chen Xianglan touched her own face: "Right? I also think I'm very suitable for curls, but Lu Cheng's father is such an old‑fashioned relic, nowhere near as open‑minded as your dad. He could drive me crazy!"

Yang Yin suddenly tapped the table: "No problem, Auntie. I'll take you to get your hair curled. I know which barbershop does it well; last time my mother curled her hair there, the stylist's technique was especially good. Come on, Auntie, let's go right now."

Yang Yin acts on whatever she thinks of, and seeing her so decisive, Chen Xianglan became somewhat hesitant.

"Go right now? How about I discuss it with your Uncle Lu again; these past few days I haven't paid him any attention, nor let him eat the meals I cooked, he's bound to relent soon."

Lu Cheng, listening, wanted to laugh; he was actually hoping his mother would hold out for a few more days, because that way he could go with his father to eat out every day.

Perhaps Yang Yin is the nemesis in his life, not even leaving him that little wish.

She tapped the table, and Yang Yin sprang to her feet: "Auntie, there's no need to discuss. Do we women not even have the right to pursue freedom?"

Chen Xianglan opened her mouth, her gaze a little bewildered: "Pursuing freedom?"